Thread 21 : To feel disappointed - and now disgusted too - after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[DisappointedReader]

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The Observer's original exposé: The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

First thread: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet

Links to threads 2-16, the other 20 Observer articles and videos to date, Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement, our timeline and sources can all be accessed in the OP and first few posts of Thread 17: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5403285-thread-17-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 18: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5422393-thread-18-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 19: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5437058-thread-19-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 20: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5454438-thread-20-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

New posters joining us in the genuine spirit of our civil discourse are welcome. It would be helpful to get the background from at least some of the Observer exposé items before posting.
To all - Please be extremely cautious when it comes to naming or implicating people and addresses not in the public eye or with no direct connection to the story, and around the understandable health speculations, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Remember, even Hollywood rabbits attract the odd flea. Please do not engage with drive-by scolders and ploppers who seem to have their own agenda and seek to derail. Avoid @'ing and quoting them as - from experience - this will only encourage them back to the threads. Over 5 months we have done amazingly well together for 20 very interesting, very serious and very silly threads so far. I can't be here as much as I'd like so all help with keeping our discussion walking along in our usual reasonable and respectful fashion is very welcome.

Keep to the path. No saltiness. Our Cardboard Mascot Our Simon has had his head stuck back on and is wearing a very fetching tinsel boa. The charabanc is bedecked with fairy lights and very well stocked up. May the seasonal fudge and mulled cider be with you one and all. 🎅🌲🎁❄️🎄

These threads are the gifts that keep on giving:
New:

• Salt Path: A Very British Scandal, available from Monday 15th December Sky Documentaries and NOW TV
• ‘Don’t look for the money. I’ve taken it all’: Salt Path author Raynor Winn’s ‘confession’ that she stole from her family | The Observer

Up and coming:

• Observer Newsroom: The Real Salt Path Story, Thursday 8th January 2026 6.30-7.30pm. More information and to book via this link observer.co.uk/our-events/the-real-salt-path-story
• Podcast series from The Observer's award-winning Investigative Journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou
• BBC Documentary (NB Not involving Our Chloe)

*MNHQ correcting above 'Documentary' to 'Podcast' at request of author

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 20 IS FULL

When I read your earlier post @TheTimeTravellersNiece, I nearly choked on my chewing gum laughing, I'm blaming everything on Raymoth from now on :)

I was sad to hear about Chris Rea too @DisappointedReader :(

So many good ideas for a musical, I can only think of, The long and winding road or Nowhere Man, for Moth.

Content warning (added by MNHQ)
Tried very hard but can't get it to link so it will play but anyone who hasn't seen it Youtube ' Out of the Blue'

It is wonderfully acted by Rufus Sewell and an IMO an example of why Our Simon is deserved Poet Laureate.

Thank you @Uricon2, the link at the bottom of your post worked for me, I hadn't seen it before, it is very moving, I watched the video that followed on with Simon talking about the poem, I do agree, he does deserve to be Poet Laureate.

Fantastic song choices!

Speaking of Simon, has anyone read “All points North” or “Gig”?
Thank you for the recommendation @Uricon2 I can’t see a link in your post now but I’ll look that one up tomorrow.

Daily Mail article manages to rehash the story under another headline
https://apple.news/AEei1xxSKRK-n2jWDFglUlA

For a classical flavour-
from Handel Messiah- (no.23 He was despisèd)

We were disappointed, disappointed and disgusted.
Disgusted at Sal and Tim, a man of bullshit
and aquatinted with lies

etc

acquainted, stupid phone

Ah, so interesting. I must say this has been a thought of mine for a while - that SalRay often looks so miserable and anxious - 'am I doing well enough?'

I remember a couple a friend's parents socialised with, back when I was a teen. She used to refer to him by his full name, in his absence, in a kind of awed reverential tone that I found teeth, itchingly cringe even as a 16-year-old. I can't remember if she was shrivelled but she certainly acted 'unworthy'.

And @PinkPanther57 I love the Fagin analogy. I was describing the unfolding scandal to DS last night and I too suggested TimMoth was a potential Svengali 😁. Given that he must have known about the crookedness, and yet seems so serenely unbothered, isn't it the most plausible understanding of it that she was always set up to take the fall?

Honestly I think she may be in a terrible terrible place right now, I almost feel bad for posting about them like this - then I remember all the people they have robbed, in so many ways.

eek my browser has just refreshed and I realise I am about a week behind the conversation here...please ignore me and carry on!!

I was sure I'd put a warning and I'm so very sorry I didn't. It's about 9/11 and has footage of the Towers. I think it's brilliantly done but of course not the easiest watch.

@HatStickBoots they are both on my reading list for 2026!

Thanks for linking this story. This beach has been left in a sorry state by developers. To pick up on the songs and bands mentioned yesterday - the Cornwall Coliseum hosted Procul Harum, The Kinks, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Paul McCartney ... it was demolished 10 years ago and all the debris still litters the beach. Wires are dangerously poking out and there are ugly fences, etc.

This is not to do with the hotel but it is all a warning of what can happen when sites are given over to be developed and the local authorities do not have the money to hold them to account. Raynor Winn whips through this area, in TSP, and Carlyon isn't mentioned - so probably doesn't go there and knows nothing about it.

I'm just about to go 'dark' for Christmas, so me and headless Simon are off to sample the delights of home made fudge and some cider and I will raise a glass to my fellow charabanceers and ask you to save me a place on the next one!

Happy Salted Blackberry Christmas to you all!

Happy Crimbo Vroom, I must say I've very much enjoyed your professional insights into the writing and publishing processes. Most enlightening. Enjoy the break!🎄🎊

Have a good one @Vroomfondleswaistcoat and try to keep Our Simon off the sloe gin! He may be headless, but still X

Have a very merry Christmas @Vroomfondleswaistcoat, as @Uricon2 says, watch Simon, we don't want him legless too🌲

Very Merry Christmas from me too @Vroomfondleswaistcoat 🎄🎁

What happened to Simon’s head? I must have missed that. What is the origin story of the cardboard Simon?

Please don’t feel bad. The pair of them literally thrive on making people feel bad for them. Sally has perfected that miserable face that begs for sympathy. I don’t think she likes people and certainly doesn’t have empathy. Don’t be taken in. She’s fine and as hard as nails, or brass.

I also think if she is feeling bad at the moment it will only be because of the impact on their lives, the very public fall from grace, being exposed as a thief and liar and losing the public appearances and accolades. I doubt there’s a shred of feeling bad about her behaviour, the horrible situations she’s put others in. Just seems to be zero remorse. Nobody else should feel bad about exposing the truth.

I chose some beers based on their names today. Most suited to RayMoth, but perhaps we can enjoy them in her absence?

I agree (watched it the other night, I think it was free on Netflix). Even if you set aside what you know about the scandal, the film is too thin to be up for any awards.

For a start, very little happens dramatically - there is no real tension, excitement or sense of jeopardy, just repetitive scenes of them wandering about and camping on different bits of the path. The script also felt flat to me, with the actors having to over-exert their facial expressions to compensate. Neither of the two protagonists (!) inspire anything more than a vague sympathy for their situation. The scenery is nice, but somehow the living creatures seem out of focus (plus I noticed some very odd-looking exotic breed rabbits hopping about.)

Anderson and Isaacs gave it their best shot, but it didn’t come across as a potential award winner.

I think they will see 2026 as a fresh start . She has a major publisher standing by her and a new book to celebrate which will doubtless sell extremely well. She will have a new script ready and rehearsed for " tricky questions ".

Does that mean we are spending next year on the charabanc @OneLivelyGreenDeer? if Salray does any appearances will we all roll up, out of our heads on cider and fudge, haranguing Salray from the carpark, I don't think they will let us in, if they did, I'm sure we could come up with some tricky questions that Salray would have a hard job answering :)

I’d like to think she might put in some appearances but I expect she’ll be too anxious about the reception she’ll get! I can’t see a way back from this but will be interesting to watch her try..

Jenny Eclair today tweeted her terrible people of the year..P diddy, salt path woman, D Walliams. All awful she said.